Jamie Nolan is the longest-serving member of the Metro Richmond Area Young Democrats’ Executive Board, and for her steadfast commitment to our organization (and her amazing home-cooking), we’re proud to recognize her as our November Member of the Month.

Originally from the Northern Neck, Jamie credits her 8th grade civics teacher for sparking her interest in politics. She went on to earn a degree in Political Science from Virginia Commonwealth University and has lived in Richmond ever since.

She has worked on Democratic campaigns at every level in Virginia, and uses her voice to bring particular focus on uplifting young and diverse candidates. She was elected President of Virginia Young Democrats for two terms and continues to serve on the board as National Committee Representative to the Young Democrats of America.

Jamie also serves as the Chair of the Richmond City Democratic Committee and co-chairs the Special Events Committee for Virginia21’s Young Professionals Advisory Council.

So with all that volunteer work, what pays the bills? Politics. Jamie is the Director of the Commonwealth Victory Fund – the joint fundraising arm of the Virginia House and Senate Democratic Caucuses. Ensuring our Democratic caucuses are well-funded is important with the majority in reach, so keep up the great work, Jamie!

Malena Llanos is no stranger to being told that she is too young to be concerned about world events, elections, and policy. However, she has always known that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

As a young girl, Malena actively sought to be more educated on current events and policy because she intimately knew its effects on her life. She grew up watching her father – an immigrant from Peru – go to the ends of the earth to provide for his family despite the roadblocks and the insults thrown at him. It was during these times that Malena learned that not only was she not too young to care, but that she must care.

The first Presidential election she remembers was in 2004; she would patiently wait in line, wearing a John Kerry button, as her mother cast her vote. It wasn’t long until she dove into campaign work. Malena attended weekly phone banks with her mother on the campaign to elect President Barack Obama in 2008, and in 2012, she happily volunteered herself to re-elect him. Since then she has remained very active in electing Democrats at every level of government and has lent her voice as a patient advocate for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia.

Malena is currently studying Political Science, with a concentration in Civil Rights, at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is on the executive board of the Young Democrats at VCU, and serves as the Women’s Caucus Vice Chair for Virginia Young Democrats. Malena is President of Planned Parenthood Generation Action at VCU.

Bryce Robertson is an active member of the Metro Richmond Area Young Democrats and our August Member of the Month.

Bryce is a Richmond native and an award-winning immigration attorney at Dyer Immigration Law Group. He has been on the front lines of the fight to protect immigrant children and families from deportation and separation from their loved ones at the hands of the Trump administration.

Bryce is also a Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellow and Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholar, as well as a board member of the Chesterfield Innovative Academy for Girls, and a mentor with the Virginia Hispanic Chamber’s Pasaporte A La Educación.

He is currently campaigning to ignite change in Richmond Public Schools as a candidate for 7th District School Board Representative.

It’s not surprising that Shannon Kane is a marathon runner, given her tenacious support for the Democratic party. We’re proud to name Shannon July’s MRAYD Member of the Month.

Shannon began her organizing with the College Democrats at University of Richmond. She helped recharter that chapter and served as the chapter’s president. While at UR, Shannon worked with the City of Richmond and the University’s administration to establish a polling precinct on campus. Her work made the ballot more accessible to over 1,500 University of Richmond residents.

She did not just organize on UR’s campus. Shannon also organized with the national College Democrats of America, serving as that organization’s Deputy Field Director.

Shannon also formerly served as the Northern Regional Field Organizer for Abigail Spanberger and is an emphatic supporter of Abigail. In September, Shannon will start managing Veena Lothe’s State Senate campaign.

On top of all that, Shannon created Ready for Terry, a grassroots movement supporting former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe for President in 2020.

Shannon was born to a military family but claims Providence, Rhode Island as her hometown. She runs marathons in her – limited – free time.

For all her work on the Democratic party’s behalf, we’re honored to name her as our July Member of the month.